Art as a therapy

The first clinical/descriptive studies on art products have been done by Max Simon (1876-1888) and crimanal lawyer Cesare Lombroso, in the last quarter of 19th century. Simon and Lombrosso looked up these products for disease symptoms and the studies on stylization and symbolization of these psychotic patients on their products has contributed descriptive classification of psychosis. These products are analysed by a group pioneered by Paul Meunier, according to "exhibition of interior and creativity". The official art expression of the era excluded these work of arts by qualifying them as "primitive expression method". Later, Mohr (1906-1907), had supplementary trials for diagnosis of psychotic patients. Mohr examined the common charecteristics of the patients' art Works by examining well planned, diagnostic experimental drawings. These early experimental drawing tests prepared the development of today's common diagnostic tools of psychotic and neurotic disturbances. Hans Prinzhorn (1916-1926) has examined inner physocological processes by collecting the patients' work of arts with help of a wide collection called "Heidelberg Collection". Prinzhorn, approached the psychotic art aesthetically and took attention to the similarities of the psychotics, children and primitive humans' art works. In this thesis, we interrogated the possibilities of using arts in common and pictorial art in private as a theraphy tool. Pictorial art shows therapeutic properties for many patients, so that, sometimes it appears to be more effective than conventional therapy tools. Even there are some examples of some painters who have severe psychological problems cured themselves directly by painting. Van Gogh is the most famous example of this. Thus, painting being not only art but also as a therapy tool shows it has an universal language (Eren;1998;11).